S.W.A.T. For The Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12

The acronym S.W.A.T. means 'Special Weapons and Tactics' and refers to the special teams in law enforcement called out in special situations to handle complex issues. I was in a local coffee shop one day when a group of them came in for coffee on way to training no doubt. They were in their camouflage and had gun holsters on and their badges.

As a believer we too are on a S.W.A.T. Team for the Lord. Our special weapon is prayer and claiming the promises in the Bible. We are armed and dangerous and with the armor of God can defeat the attacks of our arch enemy Satan who roams the Earth trying to destroy us. So many fall into his trap because they are unaware of his schemes and deceit. 

Most people own a Bible. It is your greatest weapon against the devil but has to be more than a coffee table decoration. Use it daily to fight the lies of the enemy. 

PRAYER: I thank you for the privilege of having a Bible and actually several Bibles. They will do me no good if I just look at them. I choose to get the power inside by opening and reading it daily. Satan will attempt to get me making excuses but I refuse to listen to him. In Jesus' name. Amen.

You Believe That Stuff?

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Why are we on Earth? Why were we created?  It was to glorify God. Everything we say and do should draw people from all walks of life closer to the savior. 

If you are experiencing a down moment in your life, God uses all things for His purposes. He does not cause the tragedy to occur, but can work through things to bring you closer to the Lord. Deaths of a loved one seem to be one of the biggest event that lead people to turn their back on God.  Why God why? Babies die, teens are killed in accidents, thirty something's die from cancer, and on it goes. With life comes death. No one knows when or how. We are to live life to the fullest and not sit around worrying, fearing, or pondering our demise or that of a person close to us. 

Don't turn your back on God and don't neglect His word. Many people who claim God is first place in their life would have a hard time proving that if they were arrested for being a Christian and had to go to court to prove it. How would they know? Because you go to church one hour on Sunday? Try again. 

Today do not harden your heart. If you are far from Him it is you who made it that way.

PRAYER: Lord God I love your word. Forgive me for the days I neglect it and rush into my day without you. I choose today and every day to read my Bible. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a song of worship:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GTSzT-3V05Y

DO YOU LOVE THE WORD OF GOD? REALLY?

What if some day your government made your Bible illegal? It could happen. There are many countries where a person can be jailed or executed for their Christian faith.  If it were to be taken from you do you have any verses committed to memory that you could cling to each day? Do not think I am crazy or this is a fairy tale as many nations can not have God's word.

I may have some readers from some of those countries. There are those in the United States, maybe some who even say they are Christians, who barely pick up their Bible except maybe on Sunday out of obligation. This should not be happening, the enemy can sure distract a person and get them to make all sorts of excuses. Oh we are so very busy but who gets last dibs? Jesus. 

At a conference I was at recently it was brought up that the word "busy" could be an acronym for "Being Under Satan's Yoke". Now that may put it in a different light. We are so busy, busy, busy doing so many things that do not even matter for eternity. 

Why not commit today to start "hiding" the word of God in your heart? Do not  take God for granted.  Each day write on your calendar "time with God" and do not allow "more important" things to squeeze out that time. What is more important than spending time with the King of kings? Keep the TV turned off and "turn on to" God for a change. 

I am going to list a few verses below. Why not try to commit them to memory in the next month or so? Do not allow the "tyranny of the urgent" to put God aside till Sunday. 

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me let us  go unto the house of the Lord.

Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and of spirit,of joints and of marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Hebrews 3:15 Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. 

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

Take time and keep looking more verses up. Go to the book of John in the New Testament and have fun getting to know Jesus.

PRAYER: Your word is where I get my strength Lord. I know the enemy loves it when I am too busy for you but it makes you sad. I need your word to stay strong for the battles of life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THE BATTLEFIELD OF LIFE

 

In life we are in a battle of good versus evil, right versus wrong. Life itself presents many challenges and hardships at times, and the enemy would love for Christians to feel defeated and overwhelmed.

We know we are in a spiritual battle with Satan and his demons. He can deceive even well meaning Christians to get mad at God over things. Ephesians 6:12 says that 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places.'

Life comes with joys and with sorrows. It comes with happiness and sadness. It comes with victories and with defeats. We have to pick up that sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) to defeat the enemy and win the battles that comes our way. People living in the flesh, or what is know as carnal life, do not recognize the enemies attacks as they are not spiritually discerning. The enemy has deceived many into believing his lies. But remember the enemy is not the person, but our battle is against Satan.

2 Chronicles 20:1-29 basically says that "the battle is not ours but God's". Take a moment and read those verses found in the Old Testament.

When you are in the midst of your battle to not succumb to fear and worry but keep looking up towards the cross of Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that we have the power to stand strong and be undefeated.

Psalm 95:1-10 is a good passage of scripture to end with. 'You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.'

PRAYER: Lord I do thank you for going to battle for me. I run to you and cry out and you are mighty to save. I need not fear . Strengthen me for the battles ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click n link for awesome praise song.

http://youtu.be/PWXcRVZWTb8

BACK TO SCHOOL

 It is that time of year in many parts of the country and perhaps the world. Children of all ages prepare for school. It is exciting for children to see friends again and meet new teachers.

We as Christians should be going to "spiritual school" every day and by that I mean reading and studying God's word. Don't make it a chore or obligation that you think is required to get into heaven, as it is not. Do it because you want to be closer to Christ. There is no way possible you can learn about the character of Christ unless you get into the Bible. Someone once said the word Bible could be turned into an acronym meaning " Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth". Pretty good example of what it truly is!

I can imagine Satan loves it when the different denominations try to claim they are the "one" or the best. He probably also loves when a church goer identifies themselves by their particular denomination and not just say "I am a Christian". Another good one that keeps some away from the truth is when they are captivated by a denomination just because they were raised that way and may not even be growing in Christ but simply punching their weekly ticket for attendance. Christians are those who have asked Jesus into their hearts and follow His commands not just a person who goes to some particular church.

In John 14:6(NIV) it says 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'

Just as students in classrooms around the world strive to please their parents and learn what they need to succeed in life and in their future, by being "spiritually" trained we prepare ourselves to face hardships that will come on Earth and help us become more like Him. 2 Timothy 2:15(KJV) tells us to 'Study to show thyself approved unto God,a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth.'

There are many false religions and counterfeits out there to attempt to lure believers away from the truth. There are many dead churches too.

If you have a loved one that has learned the truth as a child but perhaps strayed from the path he or she was taught, you can gain comfort from several verses one of which is Proverbs 22:6(NIV) which many may be familiar with. It says 'Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.' There are deceptive spirits out there. Also in 2 Timothy 3:15(KJV) says 'And that from a child thou has known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.'

2 Timothy 3:5-7(NKJV) gives us a warning. 'Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.'

Too many people are just "religious" and cling to a denomination and not to Jesus. Just because their granddaddy and his granddaddy went to a certain church so do they. Perhaps they just go through the motions and quite frankly feel bored. It is okay to change denominations as there will not be separate churches in heaven. If you are not getting fed the word of God and getting excited about Jesus and growing in Christ where you attend perhaps it is time to change churches. It is not about a denomination but about Christ.

Do you want to be a good spiritual student and get excited about learning His word. If you have not done so already ask Him into your heart today. Then go be a student for Jesus!!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to be a "student" of the word and not be one who has to cram for tests some day. I know Lord you are sad when I treat my Bible like a table decoration but do not use it as a spiritual tool daily. Give me wisdom Lord about what church I should attend and keep me away from those who would not follow the truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a powerful worship song.

http://youtu.be/kGVazfjJPLo

THE BIBLE IS FUNDAMENTAL

We have probably all heard the saying "Reading is Fundamental" which indeed it truly is. Without reading and knowing how to read you can not do too much else in life. The A B C's and teaching children to read from a very young age is critical to good child development.

This idea for this devotion came to me as I sat in the parking lot of the library at Redstone Arsenal. I observed parents and children there for the annual summer reading program. That is a fond memory of mine from childhood and we made certain our sons participated in things like that as well, or just did them at home with me.

Even more crucial is reading the Bible. If you are a parent reading this devotion today with babies or toddlers why not start from a very young age reading to them and read them Bible stories and the actual word of God? If you go to a baby shower why not tuck in a little book for babies and children from your local Christian bookstore? I even had a teddy bear that played the tune  "Jesus Loves Me". Take the opportunity to hide the word of God in the hearts of not only yourself but the younger generation.

2 Timothy 3:15(NIV) says 'And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.' There is not some "new parent" rule book that says that you only have to read nursery rhymes and things like that to them. I remember this one book we had about Noah's Ark I read to our two sons a great deal and it ended with "I'll never bring a flood again to cause all flesh to die and the symbol of my vow will be a rainbow in the sky." I am not sure if they still remember it, but I sure do!

What is more important? Storing nursery rhymes in your head or storing up God's word in your head. When little ones are in the church nursery what a great opportunity it would be to have the workers reading Bible stories to them. I know there are some that do.

Psalm 119:11(NIV) says 'I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.'

Start today and everyday and make sure the Bible is fundamental in your life and the life of your family. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PRAYER: Father in heaven I thank you for your word which is fundamental to good spiritual health. Every day put the desire within me to read it. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Note: Sorry for lateness of today's post but I am in Arizona and this is first chance I had today with Wi Fi.